CrAZy EiGhT tag

my dear friend joni sent me a smile last night and told me i needed to post something.....so this is for you joni! :)

8 things i have a passion for:

• being a mother
• our family/children/grandchildren
• a relationship with God
• my husband
• decorating our home
• the ocean
• coffee
• Christmas

8 things i would like to do before i die:

• see my children achieve their dreams
• live by the ocean or in the woods by a lake
• see my grandchildren grow up
• travel
• finish all the projects i have in my head!
• volunteer in my community
• continue to stop and smell the roses in this fast paced life
• live somewhere i can grow a flower garden all year long!

8 things i say a lot:

• i love you
• call me when you get home
• be safe
• thank you
• what do you say?
• oh, brother
• no, no
• one more and that's all :)

8 books i have read recently:

• a weekend to change your life
• susannah's garden
• a good yarn
• the shop on blossom street
• the second journey
• the Bible
• the big house
• making room in our hearts

8 movies i have seen 8 times:

i don't usually watch movies more than once, (except for children's movies) but here are some of my favorites:

• the family stone
• something's gotta give
• the notebook
• the cider house rules
• dumbo
• beaches
• august rush
• one magic Christmas

actually, that is a good exercise to do....thanks for the nudge, joni! :0

photo challenge----numbers

happy birthday!

what we live by! unfortunately :)

what we've been watching closely!

memories

rummikub

it's HOT

yesterday, while doing errands with jessamyn and the kids,

i was putting asher back into the car

and he said

"there's too much hot in here nonnie!"

oh boy do i agree ...107 yesterday!

so....we have been spending a lot of time

in lake kimberly

eating ice cream

drinking lots of cold drinks

and just trying to stay cool

speaking of cool! :)

brody thinks goggles are cool
after watching asher wear them swimming,
but he thinks of them more as an accessory! :)

it's otay!

a conversation this morning with my oldest grandchild (4)

asher: what you doing, nonnie?

nonnie: i'm cleaning these flowers out, buddy, because some of them

are dead and some just don't look good anymore.

(i begin to take the "droopy" one out to throw away

since it is hanging halfway down the vase)

asher: no, no, no, nonnie....that one is otay (okay)....it is just sad!

well what could i say to that?

so it is staying right there

being sad....

although i kind of doubt

that it is going to be happy again.....

but....

you never know!

"Sometimes
the most important thing in a whole day
is the rest we take
between two deep breaths,
or
the turning inwards
in prayer
for five short minutes."

~Etty Hillesum

photo challenge

Patriotism
or
What I love about my Country

"the emblem of the land i love"

the freedom to worship as i choose

the freedom to question, wonder and learn
education

the freedom to choose

the freedom of expression

to swim....or not to swim....

after my post about ice cream

i decided i better do a post on the effects of ice cream! :)

every summer this happens

i say, i'm going to be ready for swimsuit weather

and inevitably.......i am not!

so......i either suck it up (literally)

and swim and make memories

or sit by the pools, and let special times go by.

this summer, i am glad to say,

that regardless of the horror of swimsuits

and my not being in shape

i am enjoying my swimming time with family

and friends!

and after doing a little research

it seems swimsuits

are the problem

not the people in them! :)

well, maybe i spoke too soon!
have a wonderful time
making memories
in shape or out of shape!

happy birthday dear jamie!!!!

Our little firecracker!

thank you jamie, for all the wonderful
memories that fill our heart since you were born
and filled the oldest daughter spot! :)

jamie: caring and loving soul, nurturing, strong, tender hearted,
wonderful auntie
selfless, protector of animals and the environment,
passionate, courageous, wonderful interior designer...
and we know you will be a wonderful mommy
when you get your chance sweet daughter.

i pray this year your dreams come true~!
we love you so, jamie girl!

have a safe and happy 4th everyone!
i'll catch up when we are back from celebrating! :)

i scream, you scream……..

who knew?

In 1984, President Ronald Reagan designated July as

National Ice Cream Month

and the third Sunday of the month as National Ice Cream Day.

He recognized ice cream as a fun and nutritious food

that is enjoyed by a full 90% of the nation's population.

In the proclamation, President Reagan called for all people of the United States to observe these events with

"appropriate ceremonies and activities."

In 2008, National Ice Cream Day will be Sunday, July 20.

remember waiting for good old fashioned
hand cranked ice cream?

and mr. softee.....

but if you can't hand crank your ice cream
and mr. softee doesn't come to your address anymore
this has got to be
the best taste of summer ever

so hope you figure out some
"appropriate ceremonies and activities"
(maybe a little ice cream dance...with a dip...and a swirl!)
to celebrate july as national ice cream month....
only, don't wait until july 20th! :)